The chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, Zayed R Alzayani, said Sunday's grand prix will go ahead safely, despite pro-democracy protests and labelled anyone who used violence in the campaign as terrorists.

The February 14 Youth Coalition, an underground movement, this week embarked on a week-long campaign entitled "volcanic flames", as part of their condemnation of the race.

"Our job is to make sure the event passes smoothly," Alzayani said. "We do our part and whatever happens outside the track somebody else is responsible for. I personally think it's safe to do the race, there is no problem. We have 5% who don't like it but the majority do and we cater for the majority.

Alzayani opposed any use of violence in the protests. "No matter what cause you have you have no right to disrupt the normal process of life," he said. "That is not democracy, that is terrorism."

One human rights activist claimed that since the race was first staged in 2004 it has run at a loss and the promised economic returns and infrastructure have failed to materialise.

"The intention of the track was never to be a profit-making organisation," Alzayani said. "We know to be in Formula One is very expensive but our intention has always been to promote Bahrain internationally.

"We've been very successful in doing that judging by the number of viewers of our race and the exposure of Bahrain as a nation."